The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1887-08-11
I" P. P. c."
Happy Result Of Miss Fanny's
Interpretation.

Happy Result Of Miss Fanny's
Interpretation.
The village of Blue Posts, in the
aorthern part of the State of New York,
vas almost as primitive in the summer
Of 1886 as it was fifty years before. The
march of civilization and progress
seemed to have gone by it about twenty
miles on either side, for that was about
the distance to any railroad. Blue Posts
IS not on the road to anywhere or from
anywhere, and its one grass-grown and
barely discernible highway to the near
esttown is rarely travelled by any thing
but d farmers wagon, which in summer
OF autumn conveyed spare produce to
market. There was, however, very
little Of this traffic, for Blue Posts con-
sumed nearly all it raised. Its wheat
went regularly to the old-fashioned
windmill. where it was converted into
aflour which, if somewhat coarse, was
believed by the natives to possess twice
the nutriment of any ground by steam
and purified by some new-fangled pro-
cess The wool and the fax were still
spun and woven by hand, and thrifty
housewives prided themselves on their
skill with the wheel and loom and
knitting-necdles. Little was brought
into Blue Posts from the outside world
save occasional letters, books and
stationery, and for these the demand
was so limited that the postmistrcss'
son, who twice week rode on slow
and venerable pony to get the mail
from TOWN, was able to bring all
that was needed, in addition to the
usual quantum of post-office matter
generally about five letters and seven
newspapers. The journey to Town
was two days affair, for the pony had
to be stabbed there over night, his aged
and knotted limbs being unequal to
more than single trip in twenty.four
hours.
Blue Posts boasted population of
two hundred and fifty souls, including
one old Indian squaw, concerning
whose possession of that super-mun-
dane essence many people have grave
doubts. There were dark rumors that
she was witch, and many believed in
her powers of forecasting the future.
Nome knew her age. but her face looked
like pathway on which time had left
its tracks so deeply and so closely that
It seemed well-nigh impossible to
squeeze in another seam or wrinkle.
Tradition had it that Blue Posts had
grown up around her, and she en-
outraged the idea that its prosperity
depended upon her continued existence
IAN idea which she made take the
practical form of levying contributions
Of food and clothing.
A stranger rarely found his way
70 Blue Posts, and when he did he
was generally almost as much an
OBJECT OF fear as wonder. He was
nearly always a peddler or a tramp,
and in either case his advent was the
signal for the barring of shutters and
ne locking of 'doors-precautions
winch at other times were rarely taken.
Inc masculine gender has been used in
leierring to the stranger, for one Of
ane softer sex had only once penetrated
.lere in the five years preceding the
aate OF which l am writing. and she
aea come by mistake, her proper desti-
nation being Painted Posts. It seemed
mat she had lost her written directions,
ana remembered only that she wanted
wgo 10 some posts. When she arrived
she was penniless, and a subscription
her.
lhe population Of Blue Posts re-
NAMED for years at about the figures
pleslousiy given, for the natural in
sease was Offset by the departure from
s,ne 70 time of adventurous youths who
lels their energies cramped by its mar
o# limits. Occasionally one of these
WOULD come back for brief visit, bear
Jug with him the marks of city culture,
uat Won admiration from the girls, and
eAclted the envy or contempt of the
!oung men. But with all it's exclusion
aom the outer world, Blue Posts was
.o' as ignorant or boorish as might be
imagined. 1t boasted a "school-
ns am who had once taught in
noes, and was never tired of descant-
On the tremendous excitement and
sonderful glut of amusement that town
saofuedi book club existed among the
s'.la and if they did not get all the
.a.est novels. they managed to secure
supply OF sounder literature than the
PRODUCTION of .'Ouida, s"The Duchess, -
= etner sensational authors.
oucn being the condition of Blue
.os0 on the 18th of June, 1886, it il
y to imagine the agitation into
"a'en Its inhabitants were thrown